Pick #6: Ronel Blanco u5.5 Ks (-150 BetMGM)

**Ronel Blanco Expected to Deliver Below 5.5 Strikeouts Against Washington Nationals**

As the Houston Astros prepare to take on the Washington Nationals in Saturday's MLB action, all eyes will be on pitcher Ronel Blanco as he aims to maintain his impressive performance on the mound. However, my pick for this matchup is for Blanco to fall short of the 5.5 strikeouts mark, despite his recent success.

Blanco has undoubtedly been a standout performer in the Astros' rotation, showcasing his pitching prowess with dominant outings. However, it's important to note that he is not typically known as a high strikeout pitcher. In fact, Blanco has fallen short of the 5.5 strikeouts mark in two out of his last three starts, with his lone over performance coinciding with his remarkable no-hitter.

Examining Blanco's career statistics in the MLB, his strikeout numbers have been average, indicating that he relies more on inducing groundouts and flyouts rather than strikeouts to get outs. Furthermore, delving into his last ten starts, Blanco has only managed to surpass the 5.5 strikeouts line in three games, further highlighting his tendency to fall short of this mark.

Additionally, Blanco will be facing a Washington Nationals lineup that has proven to be below average in terms of strikeouts against right-handed pitchers (RHPs). In fact, the Nationals have kept 11 out of 12 right-handed pitchers under the 5.5 strikeouts line, with the exception being Hunter Greene, a noted flamethrower.

Statistically, the Nationals possess the 10th lowest strikeout rate (K%) against RHPs and the 2nd lowest called strikes plus whiffs rate (CSW%) overall. This suggests that they are adept at making contact and putting the ball in play, minimizing Blanco's opportunities to rack up strikeouts.

Considering Blanco's historical performance, coupled with the Nationals' proficiency at avoiding strikeouts against right-handed pitchers, it's a favorable scenario for him to fall short of the 5.5 strikeouts mark in Saturday's matchup. Bettors looking for a promising wager can confidently place their bets on Blanco to deliver under 5.5 strikeouts against the Washington Nationals.